Gift ideas for ADHD Entrepreneurs
- UPDATED FOR BLACK FRIDAY -
(kind of a long intro..) click here to skip to the list
Thankfully, we now live in a world that’s beginning to recognize the gifts of neurodivergent minds (people with ADHD, Autism, dyslexia, etc.) beyond just focusing on the challenges that come with these cognitive variations. And we’re all learning SO much more about how we can adapt our lifestyles to help us live happier, more fulfilled lives, despite our differences.
At HIYO DESIGN we’ve had the pleasure of having team members and clients that fall into these categories (especially with ADHD) so we’ve decided it’s about time we start talking about how we’ve adapted our working style to accommodate for ADHD minds, and hopefully this is useful for other neurodivergent folks too.
You might not know this, but ADHD adults make great entrepreneurs ! Thinking outside of the box is our baseline, which makes creativity and inspiration virtually second-nature. So to kick off this topic, in the spirit of ‘Gifting Season’, we created a list of gift ideas for ADHD entrepreneurs based on things that help us stay focused and productive – plus some things that are on our wishlist! 😉
It’s important to note that any tips we include in this blog post and maybe others in the future are NOT medical advice and just based on our personal experiences. That being said, we’re thrilled to embark on a new chapter of inclusivity for HIYO DESIGN & hope you find this to be useful, whether you’re neurodivergent or not ! Please feel free to reach out with any thoughts or suggestions, if you’d like to contribute 🧡
Disclaimer: I know Amazon sucks, but it’s also extremely practical, reliable, & often cheaper, so I’ve included a lot of Amazon links to help you out. Some of them are affiliate links. no one asked me to include them here, I’m just trying to justify spending all this time putting this list together, so if you use those links it helps me out too, k? Gracias 🙏
Gift Guide for ADHD Entrepreneurs
(recommendations from an ADHD entrepreneur)
$$$ (starting with items that cost $100+)
Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones
→ Beats Studio 3 Wireless (click to view the Black Friday Deal on Best Buy)
You don’t have to get the fanciest model, but I find the over-ear on es to be the best for my sensory needs, and my Studio Beats has made focusing on work way easier. You can get them from the beats website, but I found great deals on BestBuy & Amazon. If you’re not a fan of the clunkyness of over-ear headphones, you can try AirPods instead.
Apple Watch
→ Apple Watch (click for insane Apple Watch Black Friday deals on Amazon right now!!)
Even the older versions have what I find to be the most helpful features: get reminders for meetings, answer calls when your phone is in another room (even works without cellular connectivity), easily find your phone with a “ding” sound, and wellness/fitness motivation. You can even set it to remind you to drink water and do some breath-work exercises.
Branding for their passion project
→ HIYO DESIGN Gift Card
Shameless to promote my own biz, I know 😅 but if you know an aspiring entrepreneur that just happens to have ADHD, chances are, they’ve been putting off launching their idea. I can’t imagine a better gift than to help them bring their idea to life. You can pick from several digital gift card designs, but they still have our old branding (oops) I’ll see if I get around to updating them soon, but just know they’re still valid! If you book a service now, we’re offering 20% off for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Cyber Monday!
Ergonomic desk chair
→ Wooden Ergonomic Rocking Chair (available on Amazon)
I saw this chair on TikTok (I think it was on Katie Bowen’s profile @cartoonreject) and thought it looks brilliant for ADHD business owners. It’s designed to help you sit upright and engaged, which can help you focus better while improving posture! Sounds too good to be true, and I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll be putting this on my Christmas list and I’ll report back if I end up trying it. 👉 In the meantime, here are some Black Friday discounts for similar chairs: Wooden Ergonomic Rocking Chair / if you like it in black, it’s only $78 right now!
ADHD-friendly financial advice
→ the neuro$picy money method by @ellyce.fulmore
This might be a tricky subject to offer up as a GIFT, but it might be something you can gift yourself? I’ve been following this ADHD finance + business coach on TikTok and she’s been sharing tons of great tips to help neurodivergent folks manage finances. Go check her out on the ‘tok or the ‘gram and look into her new course if you’re interested.
Vacuum robot
→ Eufy Vacuum Robot (Black Friday Deal Link)
This one’s for my WFH baddies! If you or your loved one is still rocking the work-from-home life, you may want to consider adding a vacuum robot to the family. As a cat mom myself, I find it to be super helpful for my peace of mind. Clean house = less distractions. You can schedule it to run on a schedule so it really couldn’t be easier.
Activity-filled spa day
→ find spa deals near you (yes, apparently Groupon still exists)
Entrepreneurs are busy people. We all know that. And don’t get me started on the sleep deprivation. So a little relaxation is always nice. But it can be hard for some of us to really embrace ‘stillness’ .. so if you decide to gift your ADHD entrepreneur a “spa day” just make sure it includes a variety of wellness activities to keep it stimulating and fun! Alternatives to this idea could be: gifting a gel manicure, lash lift, or anything to help them feel a bit more put-together and confident.
$$ (medium priced items, $25-$100)
“Sun” lamp for seasonal depression
→ Doraubia Happy Light Therapy Lamp (20% off Black Friday Deal)
I don’t think humans should suffer the darkness that winter brings with it. So as an island girl I’m prescribing each and every one of you a sun lamp to help you get though the dark days. This lamp claims to simulate 10,000 lux of natural sunlight and it also looks pretty stylish. Most of these lamps are just an ugly rectangle of light, but this one actually adds a bit of style, and it also has a bonus charging port built-in. Not bad!
Home cleaning service
→ MaidPro or MollyMaid
Even if it’s a one-time gift, getting a nice deep clean for your home (and workspace if you WFH) is a huge help for entrepreneurs. Ain’t nobody got time for cleaning the house when you have dreams to accomplish, and businesses to build and run! Depending on how big your space is, it could be more than $100, but considering most of you are millennials like me, let’s assume you live in an apartment and the cleaning fee will likely be under that amount.
Thrifted “dopamine clothes”
→ Swap Society, Goodfair, ThredUp or find your local Goodwill
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps our brain process things like rewards, motivation, and you guessed it, focus. Unsurprisingly, ADHD has been linked to lower dopamine levels, so many of us find clever hacks to increase dopamine in natural ways, to help support this deficiency. I for one, have found “dopamine clothes” to be a great hack, because wearing something bold & playful gives a special kind of thrill reminiscent of playing “dress up” as a kid– which at least feels to me like a solid dopamine boost. And gifting a unique, thrifted piece (like this bright orange oversized blazer I recently thrifted) has so much more character and meaning than gifting something from a regular store. Let’s stop supporting fast fashion and overconsumption, while making the world a more fun, colorful place – who’s with me?! You could also consider “dopamine accessories” such as: funky shades, a retro bucket hat, colorful socks, etc.
Gym class gift card
→ ClassPass Gift Card
Exercising regularly increases dopamine levels, which is great! but for people with ADHD, doing anything “regularly” can be a challenge. Changing it up frequently by going to a ‘Capoeira’ class today, and ‘Tai Chi Yoga’ tomorrow, can make this “routine” feel way less like a chore. So memberships like ClassPass, which give you access to a huge variety of fitness studios can be a huge help for anyone with ADHD, especially ADHD entrepreneurs that are glued to their desk. I would LOVE to get this as a gift.
Weighted Eye Mask
→ Silk Weighted Eye Pillow (Black Friday Deal)
People with ADHD often have trouble falling sleep. I used to struggle with some insomnia, but this weighted eye mask has been a game changer. It’s filled with lavender & flax seeds which makes it smell amazing. It’s also very easy to clean 10/10 definitely recommend. It’s changed my life 💜 – I’ve also heard good things about weighted blankets, but haven’t tried it yet.
Thermos to keep coffee warm
→ YETI 10oz Rambler
When you’re hyperfocusing on something you’re working on, which is a common scenario for us ADHD entrepreneurs, you may often forget to drink your coffee/tea while it’s still warm. My solution to this has been my handy YETI Rambler. I also have a bigger one I use to keep drinks cool. I know the Yeti brand is kind of pricey for a thermos, but it works SO well, and it looks like this one’s on sale & only $15 at the moment!
Something to combat overstimulation
Sensory Swing / Aerial Yoga Swing / or Fancy Earplugs
→ I’ve never tried a ‘sensory swing’ but it’s specifically designed to help neurodivergent people relax and unwind in a safe, calming environment – especially after feeling a bit too overstimulated. It looks awesome and I think it would make a great gift. Similar products are used for aerial yoga (Black Friday deal), and I could definitely see myself hyperfixating (in a good way) on that for a while! 🤸♂️ Another common solution for overstimulation is good earplugs. Personally, I prefer my over-ear headphones, but to each their own!
Fanny pack
→ Leather Fanny Pack (click here for the Black Friday deals!)
I use this fanny pack every day and I’m listing it here because it has repeatedly helped me be a more organized and responsible person. Sounds crazy, but it just keeps all my things neatly stored where I can quickly find them, as opposed to everything ‘disappearing’ into a larger purse. I claim it as one of my main ADHD hacks and would highly recommend the fanny pack lifestyle.
Mini & multi-use makeup
→ NudeStix (Black Friday off-brand option) or browse Sephora’s Travel-Sized Section
Mini-makeup makes a great gift for ADHD business babes. I swear the chaos of rushing to a meeting with investors can be cut down by 50% if you have all the makeup you need with you at all times. That’s why I always recommend mini makeup AND whenever possible, multi-use products, like NudeStix, which you can use on your lips, cheeks, and as eyeshadow.
5min Journal
→ The Five Minute Journal
Having a wellness routine or ‘daily meditation practice’ can be especially difficult for neurodivergent folks, but having a simplified, low effort option, like this “5 Minute Journal” can make a real impact. It’s undated, meaning there’s no pressure if you skip a day or two and it includes prompts to help guide the journaling, and weekly inspiring challenges to help make it fun! Many other variations on this idea are available as well– gratitude journals, some to help manage anxiety, etc. but I really like this one.
$ (Items under $25)
Plants that are easy to take care of
→ Find a local Plant Nursery and get a Pothos plant
Because of a tricky little thing called RSD, it can be especially discouraging for someone with ADHD to “fail” to care for a plant, but that also means it can be extremely rewarding to keep one alive. Pothos are beautiful and so easy to take care of. They’re also very easy to propagate, meaning you can multiply them and have them all over your house! I find taking care of plants to be quite therapeutic, and having them around my house and home office brings me so much joy.
Bluetooth Tracker (to avoid losing things)
→ Tile tag (on Amazon)
If you or a loved one has ADHD, you know the constant struggle we have with losing things… so having trackers on the most important things is extremely helpful. Tile is the top brand for this, and I think they’re more reliable than others, but any bluetooth tracker is probably still a big help!
Portable charger
→ Mini Portable Phone Charger or a Power Bank
Any ADHD entrepreneur probably already has a portable charger, but don’t let that discourage you from getting them another one as a gift! The more the merrier, in my opinion. This one’s great because it’s super compact & you don’t even need a cable for it! Or if you want to go the extra mile, get a power bank that can even charge a laptop!
Multi-device charging station
→ Wireless 4-in-1 Charging Station
I used to forget to plug my devices in to charge at night, but then I got one of these things and it just made it way easier to stay on top of it. Perfect addition to a night stand or work station.
Large water bottle for daily hydration
→ 64oz Motivational Water Bottle
You should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, right? So why not make it fun and motivating with a bottle that cheers you on? I love this idea and think it makes a great gift for ADHD folks who are often dehydrated because it’s easy to forget to drink water when your brain has 200 tabs open.
Essential oils
→ 10 Organic Therapeutic-Grade Gift Set
You probably already know essential oils are very calming and provide aromatherapeutic benefits, but did you know they can also help improve focus, concentration and help you feel invigorated to get things done? The best ones for this are citrus oils, some herbal oils, like basil or rosemary, and some root/resin oils like frankincense. A multi-pack like this one is a great place to start.
Focus crystal
→ Fluorite Crystal Worry Stone
Fluorite is considered to be one of the best crystals to help improve mental focus, concentration, stimulate the intellect, and increase memory. It’s also said to help remove mental / creative blocks. Sounds like a great choice for a wellness-inclined ADHD entrepreneur. I like this ‘thumb worry stone’ version, which kind of works as a ‘fidget toy’ to help ease anxiety and stress, but of course you can also consider a raw stone version, or maybe as a necklace pendant.
Practical everyday bag
→ Canvas Tote Bag
It may not be quite as practical as a fanny pack when it comes to carrying small things, but a good canvas bag is just so practical to have around for groceries, or to carry around work things like a laptop, iPad, or notebooks. Most of them fold up pretty small too, making them even more practical for last minute cases where you all of a sudden need to carry something. As a gift, you might want to think of getting one with a design that means something to the gift receiver to give it a personal touch.
Stylish fidget spinner
→ Dainty Daisy Fidget Spinner Ring
Fidget spinners are made to help relieve stress and anxiety, so they’re a common go-to as gifts for neurodivergent people, but if you ask me, most of them are hideous. I think this daisy one is adorable though! This moon & star one’s also alright in my opinion.
Timer (for better time management)
→ Visual Timer
Neurodivergent folks swear by this tool to help better manage time. A part of the executive disfunction that comes with having ADHD affects our ability to perceive time accurately, and that’s why having a tool that helps us visualize time is a great way to help us improve our time management skills and get things done.
Buy them lunch or dinner with a food delivery gift card
→ DoorDash, Seamless, Grubhub, or UberEats gift cards
In the same theme of ‘busy entrepreneur life’ combined with ADHD forgetfulness, it’s not uncommon to forget to eat. Gifting a food delivery gift card can be a really nice gesture and even better if you tie it to food you know they love. You can also consider gifting a gift card for groceries, farm box deliveries, or a meal delivery app like HelloFresh or BlueApron.
I could probably go on forever, but I’ll leave it at that for now! 😊 I hope you found this list helpful and hope you can sue it to make someone’s day better. One of the best gifts anyone could give to a neurodivergent person is just taking the time to understand what their real needs are and having compassion for their struggles (while always respecting them fully for who they are), so even just reading though this list is a gift. Thank you & please feel free to reach out to me if you have any thoughts or suggestions.